Haryana Excise and Taxation Minister Kiran Chodhry today directed the officers to become more proactive for recovery of old arrears of the department so that more revenue could be generated.Mrs.Choudhry, who was presiding over a review meeting of District Excise and Taxation Commissioner here today, said that it is a matter of concern and all officers should focus on recovery of this pending amount with in two months time. She also directed to set target for top 20 cases of recoverable arrears. “We have to lay stress on recovery of this amount. Apart from this, concerned officers should have to be extremely careful while recommending for writing off dead arrears, which are irrecoverable”, she said.
While reviewing the Passenger and Goods Tax, Mrs. Choudhry directed the officers to increase the enforcement on transport vehicles especially tourist buses tax so that evasion could be reduced to minimum. “We must have proper data about how many tourist buses entering in the state”. She also directed for inter-district checking so as to know exactly what is happening. Those found involve in bad practices while collecting Passenger and Goods Tax, stern action should be taken against them beside lodging of FIRs. “I want to take appropriate action against senior most officers also who found involve in evasion of PGT. A message should go to all that anybody will be punished while being indulge in loss of revenue to the state. All the district officers should make list of suspicious transporters as only then they will be able to nab them properly”, she added.
Choudhry said that mining will start soon thus all the officers should prepare themselves for the same. This would generate about Rs.700 crores to Rs.800 crore as revenue.The Minister directed them to ensure that VAT is being charged on total bill amount in all outlets in the state. The department should give an advertisement especially in Gurgaon and Faridabad so as to aware the consumers. The Apna tax scheme started by the department should also be publicized in big way so that revenue collection could further accelerate in the state.
Excise and Taxation Commissioner Mr. Sudhir Rajpal apprised the Minister that liquor vends along national highways have been removed in the state as per the direction of Supreme Court. This would impact on revenue collection. Out of total 3500 vends, about 1300 such liquor vends have been removed. Contractors have been allotted places for two years under State Excise policy. Now they have been asked to shift their places for liquor vends. He apprised that about Rs.2700 crore was collected as excise tax during last year. This, year loss of about Rs.1340 crore is expected owing to shifting of liquor vends from highways, he added.
Choudhry directed the officers for complete ban on illegal sale of liquor on highways. Illegal sale of liquor on highways should not be done in any manner.
She said that it has come to notice that some duplicate hologram on liquor bottles are being used which a matter of serious concern. She directed that a workshop or training programme for all concerned officers or officials should be conducted at range headquarters within a week.Additional Chief Secretary Hardeep Kumar, Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioners, senior officers and Deputy ETCs participated in the meeting.